High-entropy alloy anodes for low-strain and high-volumetric lithium-ion storage at ambient and subzero temperatures

The pursuit of lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density and longer lifespan has led to significant interest in anode materials that operate according to the alloying mechanism due to their high specific capacity. However, their poor structural and electrochemical stability presents a significant challenge to achieving reliable cyclability. In this study, a high-entropy stabilized SnSbMnBiTe alloy anode with a mixing entropy of 1.61 R is reported, exhibiting exceptional electrical conductivity, tapping density, and Young's modulus. These unique characteristics enable the designed high-entropy anode to demonstrate a high volumetric capacity of 2408.4 mA h cm−3 at 0.1 A g–1, exceptional rate capability with the capacity of 1017.4 mA h cm−3 at 5A g–1, and impressive subzero-temperature performance with a discharge capacity of 1418.0 mA h cm−3 at -30 °C. In-situ transmission electron microscopy reveals that the high-entropy anode undergoes much-suppressed volume expansion compared to the low-entropy counterpart, despite delivering high capacity, explaining its excellent structural and electrochemical reversibility. The results obtained in this study provide valuable insight into the design of anode materials for rechargeable batteries.